Patrick "Doc" Gouran

"He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." (Rafael Sabatini)

Patrick "Doc" Gouran was born in Peoria, IL 7-15-1940 to Helen Rogers Gouran and Roland Gouran. He was the third of four boys raised in a lively household along the Illinois River. Pat grew up like most children of the 40's and 50's spending Sat. afternoons watching movies on the big, and likely only screen in town which left him and his brothers with the ability to accurately quote every line in every old western ever made. Gouran "movie speak" lasted decades and littered their adult phone conversations and later their email correspondence.

Pat's warm effusive personality and early interest in movies led him to his life's work in live theater and film. He graduated from Illinois State University and later earned a PhD in theater from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Patrick taught theatre for 35 years at Iowa State University. Any student who elected to take Theatre 106 encountered a man born to share life's truths in a colorful, down to earth, oftentimes funny and yes, now and then, because now and then is more effective than most of the time, profane way. He loved to teach and his students knew that. He loved to act and his audiences knew that. He loved to direct and his actors knew that.

A natural off-shoot for performance led him to photography. He loved to shoot weddings and be a part of, what else, more drama. Pat shot hundreds of weddings as well as publicity and production photos and head shots for many theatre companies in the central Iowa area. He greatly respected our U.S. military veterans and shot photos of Iowa veterans for the book "Heroes Among Us".

He loved his Irish heritage, The Kingston Trio, bluegrass music, pheasant hunting, the Rocky Mountains and Iowa State basketball. He traveled throughout the US and parts of Europe. But he could never travel far enough that he didn't hear, in some part of the world, "Hey Doc! Remember me? I was in your 106 class."

Prior to his passing hundreds of emails and social media messages were received that told stories of how he touched so many lives. To them Pat would say, "Do it" or, depending on one's temperament, "Let's be careful out there!"

No funeral services are planned. As Patrick preferred, a celebration of his life will be scheduled. Memorials may be sent to the Animal Rescue League.

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